welcomed to "the journal," on dw-tv. >> i have your business update. thanks for joining us. >> welcome to the program, and coming up on the program, the british government and the phone hacking scandal. the pressure grows on prime minister david cameron to explain. some politicians are calling for toll charges on the audubon. and japan celebrates as their soccer team wins the world cup. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- the itish phone hacking scandal at rupert murdoch's media empire has claimed yet another high-ranking casualty. earlier today, the assistant commissioner of the police resigned from his post. this came after the top police officer, paul stephenson,

already stepped down. there was an emergency session called in parliament to discuss the issue. >> for david cameron, there is no escaping the phone hacking scandal. his talks with the south african president jacob zuma were supposed to focus on trade ties, but journalists are more interested in the crisis at home. in particular, the prime minister's decision to hire a previous news of the world editor, who quit earlier this year. >> in terms of andy, no one has argued that the work he did in government was in any way inappropriate or bad. he worked well in government. he then left government. >> cameron's association with him is becoming increasingly awkward for the prime minister. the most senior police officer

has been fired after hiring a person. critics say that cameron must also face the consequences of hiring a tainted murdoch deputy. >> the leadership the country needs, that is in part because he did not follow my advice 12 days ago and just come clean and admit it was a mistake in hiring him. >> they were also looking at the connections between rupert murdoch and former editor rebekah barooks. murdoch, his son james, and rebekah brooks are supposed to be talking before parliament. >> birgit? >> the former news of the world

journalist had been hired by cameron as his press spokesman, and he had been hired even their david cameron was warned that he was actually involved in the phone hacking scandal, so it is his closeness to rupert murdoch and to some of these journalists that is being questioned at the moment by many people in the british public. >> speaking of rupert murdoch, he has blt up a very powerful media empire in the united states and britain and elsewhere. how badly has his empire been affected by this scandal? >> well, tuesday is going to be a really fascinating day. rupert murdoch and his son and a former editor, rebekah brooks, will be appearing before parliament and will be answering questions and why they have not acted on it. ed miliband, the leader of the labor party -- labour party,

they will be arguing for his power to be curbs. there is a big discussion. in the u.s., and they are investigating. tomorrow and the next days and weeks are going to be fascinating in that respect. >> as always, we thank you very much. on to libya now, where rebels have claimedictory in the battle for a strategic town. there are conflicting reports about whether or not they have complete control of the town which has been held since gaddafi -- by gaddafi since march. most of the gaddafi forces are said to be retreating west. rebels say 12 fighters were killed and hundreds wounded. the capture would mark a major rebel breakthrough in their bid to push westward.

the foreign ministers of europe have been meeting in brussels to discuss the situation in syria. they are considering a series of measures to resolve the standoff between the president and his opponent. in syria itself, anti-government protests are continuing, and activists are warning of potential civil war in the country. >> syria was top of the agenda in brussels today. eu foreign ministers pressured the president assad to reform or step down as they threaten yet more sanctions. in syria, the violence continues to escalate. this amateur video cannot be verified but reportedly shows them shooting at demonstrators over the weekend. the regime continues to rally supporters. syrian opposition groups are accusing the you of doing nothing to help, but a foreign- policy chief says that they are doing all they can. >> i think it is doing exactly

what it should do. we have a delegation still on the ground. they are working with local people and talking to as many people as they possibly can. >> brussels is also looking at ways to isolate the president and his regime. >> we have already imposed two sets of sanctions, but now we're looking at ways to increase political pressures and also to bring about an international consensus. that is the purpose of my meeting with the russian minister. >> the protection of human rights in syria is primarily a matter for the arab league, so the arab league should get more involved in syria first. >> europe's foreign ministers also discussed a new emergency response center in brussels aimed at coordinating european militaries to act in one force. >> if you are planning a trip to greece, you may want to rethink

it. >> yes, taxi drivers hitting greece where it hurts, as european leaders struggle to agree on the debt crisis. protests in the country are continuing and now actually targeting the tourism sector. greek taxi drivers blocked roads to the athens airport in the main harbor monday, holding of thousands of tourists at the start of a two-day protest against plans to liberalize their trade. they say there were protesting against policy. the government is planning to issue tax licenses for a small fee, ending the practice where drivers could sell their licenses for tens of thousands of euros. t greek government has brought in a full list of controversial reforms and austerity measures under pressure from the european union and the international monetary fund to deregulate the economy and cut the country's massive budget deficit. the market turmoil being caused

by the debt crisis in europe and the united states has prompted investors to seek safe havens for their money. in addition to precious metals like gold and silver, stable currencies are becoming increasingly popular, and that has said the swiss franc soaring to record highs. but there are two sides to every coin, as they say, and the rising value of the franc is weighing on the earnings of many swiss companies. >> swiss companies like the global food giant nestle's face a major problem. and their profits are declining when the sales abroad are calculated in francs. this was currency continues to climb. since the beginning of this year, it has gained 8% against the euro, and compared to one year ago, it is up 20%. the franc is at a record high. the strong franc is also weighing on tourism, because

trips to switzerland have become more expensive. many tourists are now opting for other destinations. >> in the winter, 5% fewer tourists from europe came here. we expect 5% fewer european customers this summer, as well. >> the tourists that do come are cutting back. they're eating at less expensive restaurants and staying for fewer days, and some are laying off staff. >> to monday's market action, european shares dipped to fresh seven-month lows after results from banks stress tests lead to a sell-off, even among those perceived to be healthy. our correspondent sent us this summary of the sessions in frankfurt. >> there was tension here on the floor of the frankfurt exchange. you could see it. people were uncertain about how the next few days would develop in the greek sovereign debt crisis. will the eu summit bring a clear

answer on which way the direction is going to go? what is quite expected of investors, banks, private investors in solving this crisis? shares taking a real hit. the dax was down by over 4%, and in the euro stoxx, banks downed by a whopping 7%. the stress tests not really getting any more confidence, instead raising more concerns about the stability of the industry. >> we will stay for a closer look at monday's number is. in germany, the benchmark closed down just over 1.5%. the euro stoxx 50 down at nearly 2% at 2,62. the dow at this hour is trading down, 12,386, and on currency markets, the euro is trading down.

despite the ongoing market turbulence, the mood among consumers is looking up. for the first time since the crisis, consumer sentiment in many european nations has actually improved according to a research institute, which adds the economic expectations rose for most countries during the second quarter. >> britons have more faith again in the economic recovery and a belief that a high level of inflation of 4.5% will ease, but consumers are not splashing out on big ticket items. it is a mixture of confidence and caution, mirroring the euro zone. of course, that sentiment is not as high in greece. the same thing goes for france and romania, but it is improving in spain, france, bulgaria, and italy. shoppers are more willing to spend in austria and germany. the german certainly are not letting the euro debt crisis put

a damper on their consumption habits. ey are spending more than any other consumers across the you, thanks to the economic upturn and lower jobless rates. >> that is your business update, and now, it is on to some high- level diplomacy. >> yes, the russian president dmitry medvedev is here in germany for talks with chancellor angela merkel. the meeting begins this evening with a working dinner. energy is expected to top the agenda. germany is the biggest buyer of russian gas. moscow is looking to sell more gas to german consumers after the nuclear phase-out. more cash for maintaining. the conservative party in bulgaria has suggested implementing tolls on the famous audubon. germany's location in central europe means that lots of people are using the audubon, and they are just through getting the trip for free. >> for many foreigners come a

vacation in germany often begins in the audubon. not only can they often drive faster than they can at home, it is also free, but a conservative party wants to put a breaks on the fun. they say visitors should s share the cost of roads funded by german taxpayers. >> we have to share the costs better among road users. i think the austrian model works well. >> austria, like many other european countries, has a time based road toll. road users pay to use the roadways for a limited period. other countries burying have stretches of highway, where the users pay for the distance driven. critics say the european law does not allow for the selective tolling of foreigners. they say there is enough money for infrastructure, it is just not being well spent. like every other chancellor

before her, angela merkel has not dared to restrict the german freedom of the roads. attempts to drive her in that direction are bound to hit a big robot. >> japanese soccer fans have been celebrating their team's major victory at the women's soccer world cup here in germany. happy but tired after a night of celebration, members of the japanese team signed a few autographs before leaving for the airport monday afternoon. japan passed the u.s. to get the title, and it was in the starting game from start to finish. >> she blasted home the last decisive penalty they gave japan their first-ever women's world cup title. it was a heartbreaker for the u.s., the were the more aggressive team. the americans were awarded the lead, with a score. japan refused to give up, and after a u.s. defensive lapse three minutes from the end time, the japan players leveled the

score. that meant extra time, and the store was much the same. one player put the u.s. back in front. but again, three minutes from the end, it was on to penalties. the u.s. team had a terrible start, missing their first three attempts. >> i did get some help in the penalties because the americans in this. so the americans actually helped me out. >> but most important was the backing of the fans back home. >> before we went to the match tonight, we saw some reports on television and some comments on the situation in japan, and we wanted to use this opportunity to thank the people back home for the support they have given us. >> and they will be taking home

the best souvenir they could hope for, the world cup trophy. >> the shuttle atlantis is preparing to leave the international space station for the last time ever. there may have been a few tears, but there's certainly no gravity as they said goodbye to their colleagues on the international space station. atlantis will undock early on tuesday and then head home, bringing the final shuttle mission to an end. it is being retired after 30 years in service. it is certainly the end of an era. >> too bad. >> steve will be back with some more business news. >> the clock is ticking for politicians in america. the clock is ticking.

>> welcome back for business in depth. time is rapidly running out for u.s. lawmakers to raise the country's debt ceiling or plunge but natis -- the world's

biggest economy towards the fall. the u.s. treasuries as the limit must be raised by august 2, or it will not be able to pay the country's bills. president barack obama is pushing for a deal that would raise the country's $14.30 trillion debt ceiling to as high as $17 trillion on the condition that the federal budget deficits be reduced by much over the next decade. there is a road block, with a stumbling block being the president's insistence of closing tax loopholes that benefit the rich. for a close look at that story and an update on the monday trading session, we go to the new york stock exchange. do traders there believe congress will be able to agree on raising the debt ceiling? they are coming perilously close to the precipice here. >> there is hope that some kind of a deal might be reached within the next couple of days

maybe, early next week. what i hear on the floor is that the most likely outcome still might be that u.s. president barack obama would get more power, and with that, hcan increase the debt ceiling more or less by himself without direct support from the republican party and if that is really going to happen remains to be seen, but it is a very emotional debate. if you ask traders about the debt ceiling, they do have a tough time controlling their anger, so there is a lot of anger about the what is going on in washington right now. >> and taking a look at the markets, it does not seem that there is too much optimism in the market yet this week. his visit washington or europe that is weighing on the sentiment? >> that is a big question. in the end, probably both, but what i hear is that the euro zone debt might have even bigger problems than the united states. if you look at the currency

market, the dollar is trading higher in comparison to the euro, and this relative dollar's strength is hurting energy prices. oil is down by a good $2 per barrel. the dow jones industrial average, this is trading lower. >> looking at one company in particular, news corp. shares have fallen. and all cost the first big resignation in the states over the weekend. do people believe the murdoch empire is in danger? >> well, people talk about it. if news corp. may be split up into different pieces or separate pieces, if that is going to happen. it is too early to call, but it is a possibility, so a lot of uncertainties surrounding news corp. and also what might be on the legal side in the united states. there are stories that maybe the

u.s. had families of the 9/11 victims hacked into. since the scandal broke, the stock is down roughly by 15%. >> from the new york stock exchange, thank you very much. and as equity markets have fallen further, the price of gold has surged to its highest level, topping $69 an ounce earlier this monday. the precious metal is seen as a safe haven, and some believe the price will rise as officials in europe and the u.s. show few signs of progress in debt discussions. stable currencs like the swiss franc had been touched all-time highs against the euro. for those of you who have your own bank account, in may seem strange that tens of millions of european adults do not have one, or even if they do have an account in their own country, they find it difficult to open

another one if they move to any of the other eu stes. the european commission is unhappy about the situation and has given banks a last chance to sort things out. >> these days, it is almost impossible to pay for anything, settle a bill, or pay for anything without a bank account with cash and credit cards. some 30 million europeans do not have them. brussels want that to change. >> it is not normal for eu citizens not to have basic accounts. it is an important tool for dealing with everyday life. >> people denied access to bank accounts are mostly students, the unemployed, and pensioners. that is because banks often demand proof of a regular income and a permit residents. brussels once them to offer a basic accounts of what they call is a reasonable charge for everyone. consumer protection groups say

that does not go far enough. >> the european commission missed a really good opportunity to regulate this sector, the basic bank account, but only adopting a recommendation, which is voluntary. >> one banking person has warned he will issue a binding directive if the banks fail in making any progress in expanding access to key accounts over the next year. >> leading the world in solar energy development, according to renewable energy policy that were for the 21st century. the only thing is, it is difficult to find enough space in the country since it is one of the most densely populated nations in europe, and that is where rooftops come into play. >> ps fin solar panels wait just a few kilos and can be installed in just a few steps. -- these fans solar panels --

thse thin solar panels weigh just a few kilos. >> we're doing what we can to increase renewable energy sources as part of our sustainability model. the container terminal here is mostly electric, and is considered to be the lowest commission model in the world. >> the hamburger logistics company has not had to invest a cent in the system. it merely provides the roof and a small section of wall, and in return, it will be paid rent for a 20-year period. the operator of the system is a company that rents rooms with an area of the least 1000 square meters across the city and installs the solar system is on them -- systems on them.

the money is borrowed. >> we think it is good when we contribute to the expansion of alternative energy and profit from it. we raise the money through a municipal bond issue. residents can subscribe to it, and we are now using that money to build solar systems. the residents benefit from the new energy supply. >> those to subscribe receive interest on the money raised by the city. some well-known routes are part of the project, like the hamburg airport and the stadium, where a photovtaic system is installed on the main spectators stand. a hamburg soccer team was among the first to take part, and fans alike to the concept. now, they are eager to install more solar panels. >> you can see it will have to

be renovated, maybe next year, and after that, the north's stance, which are behind me. they will likely be renovated in 2014. >> the model is a popular one. a large commercial area, like the port, and every word has been examined to see if it is suitable for solar panels, but would be difficult to be today port operator building -- and every roof has been examined. >> to see if the sun will be shining on the solar sector, stay with us, because the weather is coming up next here on dw-tv.

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